Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Healy | Sgt. Austin Parks, a fire direction control specialist in Charlie Company, 3rd...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – After a year of competition within the subordinate brigades, the 1st Cavalry Division of Fort Hood held its Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition, April 14 to 17.
The front runner for the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s NCO of the Year was Sgt. Austin Parks, a Fire Direction Control Specialist in Charlie Co., 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.
Parks was nominated by Command Sgt. Maj. Theodore Durand, the senior noncommissioned officer of 3-82nd FA, 2nd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div. Durand knew parks during his time as a first sergeant, and quickly realized his potential.
“He came to the battalion as a Pfc. and he has been nothing but a role model for enthusiasm, zeal, and has genuine passion for every Soldier,” Durand said. “As could be expected with a Soldier with that much energy, he’s been promoted to every rank so far in the secondary zone.”
Based on his performance in the battalion, Durand believes that Parks is the best choice to represent the brigade, and possibly the division.
“If sergeant Parks is able to put his a game on, which I believe is the only game he has, then he will succeed and be an awesome representative for the division,” said Durand.
Parks was a bit more humble about his achievements in the 3-82nd FA.
“I don’t see myself as an NCO of the Year type guy, I see myself as a guy who will get the job and get it done right,” Parks said. “I think just seeing that reoccur in front of my sergeant major as well as job knowledge has really made an impact on him selecting me as a candidate for NCO of the Year.”
Having been notified only two weeks before the competition, Parks scrambled to cram in as much information as possible.
“Coming from the National Training Center and being out in the field leading up to NTC, I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for this,” he said.
Regardless, Parks said his goal was to put forward the same vigor during that competition that led to his selection.
“I don’t like coming in last,” he said. “I don’t like losing at anything.”
Parks is hopeful that his can-do attitude, coupled with diligence and focus in studying, will be enough to secure the win.
“It’s important for a board because when putting together a board, I think they’re looking for confidence in your answers,” Parks said. “Yeah, they want you to know what you’re talking about and the knowledge portion, but as long as you’re going to stick to it and not second guess yourself, I think that’s the most important thing for boards.”
Whatever the outcome, Parks said he is sure to benefit from the experience.
“I don’t really take too many negative things from losing,” Parks said. “There may be someone that was more prepared or better than me, that just means that I need to get better, and I’ll find the areas where I need to improve.”
The winners of the competition will be announced during the 1st Cavalry Division Ball in May.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2015 20:31 |
| Story ID: | 161452 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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